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It's been interesting trying out backstitch ...
and double running stitch ...
versus plain running stitch ...
But honestly, at this point I'm not quite sure how I feel about it ... so I'm letting the idea compost for a while.
Meanwhile, I'm still plugging away on Triangulation (65 squares stitched, 95 to go). Taking a cue from Grace, I hung it in a window (which was only partially sunlit) and took some pictures of the back (so east is to the left and west is to the right) ...
Here's the B-side of the arch in St Louis, where the only thing holding the cloth strips together is running stitch and some embellishing stitches ...
This view shows intersecting horizontal and vertical running stitches - an attempt to better fill the gaps in the cloth weaving ...
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| Tulsa, Oklahoma at the intersection of I-44 and I-75 |
And this view shows how much more substantial the back stitch proved to be in stabilizing the cloth weaving (fortunately, I figured that out about a quarter of the way into the initial stitching) ...
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| The flip side of southbound 35, Austin and San Marcos |
As I've mentioned before, never will I ever again cloth-weave sheeting and back it with Harem cloth. Besides which, what was I thinking tackling a piece this size to begin with? But I must say continues to be an interesting exercise in problem solving.
Postscript: Southbound 35 is what I slip in the CD player when we cross the Red River from Oklahoma into Texas ...
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Interesting idea, stitched book passages, will you cut them out of the actual book and then stitch the paper onto you what I imagine is a cloth stitch book, sort of like the books that you made for your grandsons? If that is the plan, then what a fine idea, a portable quote and passage book to tuck into your purse, etc. OR am I misunderstanding this??
ReplyDeleteAnyway while you compost this idea, I want to tell you how much I enjoyed my walkabout on your land. (Since I am not a blogger I don't know if you would be notified if I answered an older post.) Seeing Don;s touches were an added bonus and this walk brought back memories of when we lived in Texas.
For years, it has been my habit to rise early and get out, if I can just at sunrise and walk where I live. When we lived in Texas (Round Rock), our rental home was in a development with lots of walking spaces, meandering streets, green areas, ponds etc.. My joy in finding deer, lizards, a heron in the pond, and a turtle sunning herself on one of the pond rocks was an added bonus. My vigilance in making sure I did not come in contact with snakes on these walks was every focused. I'm very tactile so I had to be especially aware of my surroundings since I like to crouch and touch leaves, rocks, etc. These walks were not actually high on exercise benefits due to my constant stopping but what glory to sniff, touch, see and listen to all that presented itself on these walks. I may not have gotten enough physical exercise but the mental health benefits of simply noticing my surroundings, well that was tremendous. Seeing the photos of your land brought my Texas sojourn all back to me so thanks Liz for this chance to go back to the hill country of Texas.
I think I'll leave the books intact ... with threads hanging out wherever there is a passage I want to return to.
DeleteAs for comments, if you leave them on even the earliest posts I will get an email nudge ... but this works, too. I've always loved beach walking best, but walking out property is a close second.
P.S. Welcome home ... I'm sure your missing your grandtwins already.
Deletelove this post Liz. love annie lamont and especially love how you've encapsulated her wisdom with stitch. brilliant. after studying this cloth i thought--what would my own physical journey look like--the places i've lived in so many different states--in so many different times of my life. so i roughly mapped it out, connected city/country/states with lines--noticed the repeating returning to--to WV--to NC--and when i was finished it looked like a wonder full constellation. think i'll be doing more with that. thanks for the inspiration.
ReplyDeleteThanks! These passages are actually Anna Quindlen's but they speak with similar voices.
DeleteI love the idea of a travel constellation and willook forward to seeing it take shape ... glad I was part of the seed planting
the cloth map is looking fabulous Liz !
ReplyDeleteThanks Mo ... I think of you whenever my eye catches on Tulsa
DeleteThis is a fabulous post - I love that you've decided to be who you are. I always believe we should just be the best versions of ourselves - it keeps life simple. Your needlework is amazing - but, so are you. Happy stitching!
ReplyDeleteThank you ... I must say I'm a bit easier to live with these days (well, most days)
DeleteI'm glad that was Anna Quindlen since i had read Stitches and didn't recall those passages! wrote it off to not reading carefully enough!
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